Machine for fastening paper and the like.



P H CRABTREB & A G MOGREGOR MACHINE FOR FASTENING PAPER AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1908 Patented June 14, 1910.

' attorna a mx r Q I @@@V/// 0 I QUEER/W UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRICK HERBERT CRAIBTREE AND ALEXANDER GRANT McG-REGOR, OF ANACONDA,

MONTANA.

MACHINE FOR FASTENING PAPER AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11116 14;, 1910.

Application filed January 7, 1908. Serial No. 409,702.

- tion.

This invention relates to stapling machines and has for its object to provide a strong, durable and thoroughly efhcient machine of this character by means of which several sheets ofpaper or similar material may be securely fastened together and which will be of an inexpensive construction, and in which access may be easily had to the operating parts for repair or renewal of the same.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construct10n may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a slde elevation of a paper stapling machine constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of F ig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the front end of the staple supporting bar and the anvil. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of the continuous strip of staples for use in connection with the machine.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings. The improved machine forming the subect matter of the present invention includes a supporting base 5 provided with laterally extending ears 6 havingperforations formed therein for the reception of screws or similar fastening devices 7 by means of which the machine may be secured in position on a table, desk or similar support.

Extending vertically from one end of the base is a tubular member or casing 8 having its lower end provided with rearwardly extending attaching arms 9 preferably disposedfiush with the opposite longitudinal edges of the base and secured to the latter by suitable screws or rivets 10. The forward end of the base. is reduced to form an anvil 11, which latter is'spaced from the lower end of the casing 8 to form an intermediate chamber adapted to receive the sheets of paper or other material to be fastened to. gether, there being a shoulder 12 disposed at the rear end of-the anvil for limiting the inward movement of the sheets of paper when the latter are positioned on the anvil.

Slidably mounted in the casing 8 is a reciprocating plunger 13 having its upper end pivotally connected at 14 with the intermediate portion of an operating lever 15. One end of the lever 15 is provided with a handle while the opposite end thereof is pivoted at 16 to a link 17 extending vertically from the base and pivotally mounted at 18 between a pair of spaced lugs 19 extending upwardly from the base and preferably formed integral therewith, as shown.

Secured to or formed. integral with the base 5 is a longitudinal bar 20 adapted to support and guide the staples or similar fastening devices employed for uniting the sheets of paper. The staples are preferably in the form of a continuous strip of metal, the individual staples 21 being connected by intermediate webs 22 and provided with depending arms terminating in points 23 adapted to be driven through the paper and clenched on the latter by engagement with the anvil. The forward end of the bar 20 is positioned between and spaced from the attaching arms 9 of the casing so as to permit the strip of staples to be readily fed to' the plunger, said bar terminating in a reduced head 24 preferably of the same width as the metal constituting the webs 22. The

. plunger 13 is provided with a reduced extension 25 which co-acts with the head 24 to cut or sever a single staple from the strip at each downward movement of the plunger. The casing 8 is provided with a vertically disposed slot 26 the side walls of which are extended laterally to form spaced ears 27 between which is pivotall mounted a feedinglever 28 the free end 0 the latter being normally and yieldably held in the path of movement of the plunger by a leafspring 29 which is arranged between the end of the slot 26 and the pivoted end of the lever so as to bear against the outer side of the casing, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the spring being secured to the lever below the pivoted end of the same.

the pawl swings forward, will drop behind the web of the staple in the spaces on opposite sides of thereduced terminal 24:, and consequently, positively engage the said web of the foremost fastener and carry it squarely against the casing so that it may be held positively in the path of the plunger and the driving blow will be delivered squarely upon the fastener. On the return movement of the lever, the lips will be slightly bent toward the end of the pawl by the transverse shoulders at the sides of the reduced extension of the head. The reduced construction of the head, furthermore, furnishes ample support for the web of the fastener without projecting under the side arms or fasteninglegs of the fastener which is to be severed from the strip. Moreover, when the plunger descends there will be no shearing action on any part of the fastener beyond the web and, consequently, there will be no weakening of the fastener as applied to the material secured. 'On the contrary, a

art of the web will be retained on the astener so as to reinforce that portion of the fastener which receives the clenching blow. Moreovenwhile the construction provldes sufficient support for the fastener it obylates all probability of the plunger being in ured by striking a projecting surface near the fastener.

The lower end of the plunger at the reduced extension 25 is provided with a cam face 32 which engages the inner face of the lever 28 and forces said lever rearwardly on 1ts plvot point at each 'downward movement of the plunger, thereby to permit the lips 31 to l'lde over the fasteners comprising the strip when the plunger is moved to loweredposition to sever one of said fasteners from the strip.

As a means for locking the strip against reaward movement during the (cutting or severing operation there is provided a lockmg pawl 33 similar in construction to the pawl 30 and which bears against the staples at the rear of the pawl 30. One end of the spring pawl 33 is secured to a yoke 34 extending over the bar 20 and having its opposite ends secured to the arms 9 at each side of the bar, asshown. A coiled spring 35 is preferably interposed between the upper end of the casing 8 and a shoulder 36 on the plunger for retracting or elevating said plunger after each downward movement of the lever 15.

In operation the several sheets of paper are introduced in the chamber above the anvil and the lever 15 depressed. As the lever is depressed the plunger 13 will be forced downwardly, the initial downward movement of the plunger thus causing the extension 25 to engage and sever the farthermost staple, and a further movement thereof forcing the staple through the paper with the points thereof in contact with the anvil .thus bending said pointsand clenching the same on the bottom of the paper. As the plunger descends the cam face 32 will engage the lever 28 and move the pawl 30 over the faceof the strip, the locking pawl 33 serving to prevent rearward movement of the I strip during the cutting operation. As the plunger ascends the spring 29 will move the lever 28 carrying the feed pawl 30in the direction of the head 21 and thus present another staple or fastening device to the plunger for severance from the strip when the plunger is again operated.

While there is illustrated a pivoted lever for actuating the plunger it will be understood that the upper end of the plunger may be provided with a suitable knob or handle for effecting the movement of the plunger without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will be observed that the parts are compactly arranged and that the feeding lever and the retaining pawl 33 are accessible for cleaning, repairing or renewal without the removal or disarrangement of any of the parts.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

The stapling machine herein described and shown comprising a base plate having an.

slot in its rear side at its lower end, a, guide bar on the base plate extending into the lower end of the casing and having a reduced extremity spaced from the side of the casing, a yoke extending over said guide bar, a spring pawlsecured upon said yoke and projecting toward thecasing to engage staples supported on the guide bar, a' plunger mounted within the casing and provided at its lower end with a reduced extension adapted to sever a staple and drive the same against the anvil, a cam surface being formed on the plunger in rear of and adjacent to the said extension, a feeding lever pivoted on the casing and projecting through the slot therein into the path of the plunger a spring pawl secured to the lower end 0% the feeding lever to engage the staples, a leaf spring secured to the inner side of the 5 feeding lever and arranged between the same and the end of the slot in the casing, and means for operating the plunger. In testimony that we claim the foregoing FREDRIGK HERBERT ORABTREE. ALEXANDER GRANT McGREGOR.

Witnesses:

JoHN W. JAMES, GEO. A. ROGERS. 

